Pilot Debrief

CONSOLIDATED AERONAUTICS INC. LAKE LA-4-200 near Mio, MI — 2021-06-28

Final reportCEN21LA294
Sign in to save
Date
2021-06-28
Location
Mio, MI, USA
Airport
51M
Aircraft
CONSOLIDATED AERONAUTICS INC. LAKE LA-4-200
Registration
N963L
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff roll when the engine did not produce full power.

NTSB narrative

The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and an engine run-up before departing on a personal flight. During the takeoff roll, the tachometer indicated 200 rpm below normal, which was an indication that the engine was not producing full power. The pilot continued the takeoff, and after liftoff, the airplane would not accelerate. The airplane descended and impacted terrain resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The low engine power indication should have prompted the pilot to abort the takeoff, which would have avoided the accident. A postaccident examination of the engine was not performed because the airplane owner did not make the engine available.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have aborted takeoff due to low tachometer reading.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

Related mishaps